Referee Geoff Eltringham, 36, a talented footballer in his youth and, after leaving school, decided he still wanted to be involved in the game and thought refereeing was the best way to do that.

He came through the Russell Foster Tyne and Wear Youth League, Northern and UniBond leagues and then, the Blue Square North and Blue Square Premier, being promoted to the National List of Referees in 2009. In 2016 he was appointed to the new elite group of full-time referees to officiate at Championship matches.

The last time Ref Eltringham bossed a Fulham game was the 3-1 home victory over Ipswich in which he yellow carded three Fulham players, McDonald (37,f), Ream (74,f), Malone (90,f), and one Ipswich player, Chambers (85,d).

Prior to that game Mr Eltringham had only reffed one Fulham game before, which was the 3-1 away win at Rotherham in Aug 2015. He yellow carded 3 players, two were Fulham players, McCormack and Christensen, both for fouls. Ref Eltringham also gave us a penalty in the 16th minute which was converted by McCormack.

Eltringham last reffed Bolton Wanderers in their 3-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough in which he booked one player from each side.

Last season Mr Eltringham reffed 40 games and dished out 112 yellows, so an averageyellows per game, and an average 5 red cards. This season so far he has reffed 12 games and dished out 40 yellows, an average 3.3 yellows a game, and no red cards, so far!

His busiest game this season was the 1-1 draw between Aston Villa and Cardiff when he booked three Villa players and four Cardiff players while also sending off a Cardiff player late on in the game for two yellows.